“I hope to be able to ditch my two friends [the crutches] in the New Year and then step up my recovery, but it’s hard to predict when I will return to the pitch. I am taking my time and not taking any risks -I need to be 100 percent.

"I have to say the other goalkeepers have performed well, but I fully expect to be back in goal at the World Cup.

"In my opinion, there's nothing standing in the way of me playing in the World Cup."

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